Out of all the soft corals we propagate here at GARF, one of the groups we have had the
most success with are the Gorgonians. We do our work with two families of
the order Gorgonacea. Genus such as Eunicia, Swiftia, and Plexaurella are
found in the family Anthothelidae. The family Gorgoniidae is represented by
various genus including Gorgonia, Pseudopterogorgia, and Ptergorgia. Some
Gorgonians, such as Swiftia, require feeding, but most are photosynthetic
making them a beautiful, easy to keep soft coral.

Not only are these corals
a wonderful addition to a reef system, but they are also being researched
for their anti-inflammitory and anti-tumor properties. Many Gorgonians are being used now for medical and cosmetic products.

This article will teach you how to grow Gorgonians and we will give you the basic steps of gorgonian propagation. The
gorgonian being propagated in this article are all members of the Order Gorgonacea. The species that we are writing about are in the species Diodogorgia - Red Finger gorgonian and Yellow Finger Gorgonian - Pterogorgia- Purple ribbon Gorgonian and Pseudoplexaura - Bushy Sea Rod.

One thing to keep in mind is that Gorgonians need moderate to strong
current. The Purple ribbon Gorgonian tend to "wax over" and this wax layer will shed on it's own and the surface of the Gorgonian will be bright and clean.

Feeding will increase the growth of these corals. We use Rotifers and Brine shrimp to feed the systems that contain our Gorgonian brood stock and cuttings.

THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE GORGONIANS THAT WE GROW FOR THEIR BRIGHT COLORS

Gorgonians were some of the first captive grown corals we
purchased in 1994. They have been very hardy and they all grew into large show
corals. I have been watching these Gorgonians for several months and I
have wondered where they came from. I moved several small cuttings into
my new reef aquariums and they have all grown much better than any of
the wild gorgonians we have purchased. Last month I asked Sally Jo where
they came from and she told me they were in one of the shipments we received six years ago.

The first three Gorgonians that we will look at are # 1.Pterogorgia- Purple ribbon Gorgonian Diodogorgia - #2. Red Finger gorgonian and #3. Yellow Finger Gorgonian -

#1. Pterogorgia- Purple Ribbon Gorgonian
These gorgonians are great for decorating a reef because they have a nice purple color and they are thin enough that they move with the currents. The presence of brown polyps on Gorgonians often show that they thrive in bright light without feeding. The Purple ribbon is one of the easy Gorgoniands to keep because they can make most their own food. This is one of the Gorgonians that sheds it's skin regularly. This coral needs bright light to thrive, but many people have had great growth with 40 watt lights.

#2.Diodogorgia - #2. Red Finger gorgonian

#3.Diodogorgia - #2. Yellow Finger gorgonian
This is one of two easy to grow predatory Gorgonians. This coral needs to be fed at least twice each week, but it has such large polyps that feeding them is not difficult. We use a simple to make food for all of our new research on predatory corals.

Soak the flake food in the Reef Plus for one hour and then add the fresh water. Puree the mixture in a blender for several minutes.
After you allow the mixture to set for several minutes you can pour the smallest particles off with the water. The larger particles will settle to the bottom of the glass and they can be used to feed the Gorgonians.

THIS PICTURE SHOWS TWO MORE SPECIES OF GORGONIANS THAT WE PROPAGATE.

Muricea sulphurea - Spiny Gorgonian
The small Gorgonian on the left is called the Spiny Gorgonian; it is Muricea sulphurea from Florida. The Muricea are very hardy and they often survive to grow into colonies. This Gorgonian feels very rough and it can sting other corals. This coral is easy to propagate and it is popular in the reef hobby.

Plexaurella grandiflora - Slit-pore sea rod
The fuzzy Gorgonian in the middle is Plexaurella grandiflora and it is called the Slit-pore sea rod. This Gorgonian has wonderful polyps and cuttings look like small Pacific Ocean soft corals from the species Sinnularia. This species is soft to the touch like Pseudoplexaura ssp. and it grows very fast. This species has been at GARF for several years and it is the only Gorgonian that we have trim because it is shading other corals.

We often mount several species of Gorgonians on one Reef PlugTM and each coral can be seperated from the others after they start to grow. We have grown many of these mixed Reef PlugsTM for several semesters with no indication of damage to the corals.

These corals are growing very well in one of our 10 gallon tanks This tank includes a 22 watt power compact light that works very well for keeping any species of soft coral.

There is an unexpected bonus that we did not plan on. The plastic racks do not cover the entire bottom of the tank. The front portion of the bottom of the reef farm makes a great place to drop cuttings so they can attach to gravel before they are glued to Reef PlugsTM.

Muriceopsis flavida - Spiny Gorgonian
These spiny Gorgonians are very hardy and they come in several colors. We are growing both pink and yellow. You can see in the detail disk that these Gorgonians have sharp spines that point up and it is easy to tell the proper direction to mount cuttings because you can easily pull the cuttings through your finger and thumb when you are pulling it from the bottom of the cutting.

These corals do best when they are placed in strong water flow. They can catch food as it is swept past them in the current. They are easy to feed on crushed flake food and frozen brine shrimp. It is important to supply good illumination to all of the photosynthetic Gorgonians.

This group of Gorgonians is very easy to propagate and they do not need to have any of the tissue removed before they are glued to the rock. Several colors of this genus can be grown together with no damage to them. These corals are often damaged by storms and fragmentation is a natural method of reproduction.

Eunicea succinea - Candelabrum Gorgonian
These corals tend to be brown with knobby projections when they are closed. These are some of the most common Gorgonians that are sold in pet shops. The problem with ocean collected specimens is that they are often damaged, and that damage can cause an infection that kills the entire coral in less than 24 hours. Captive raised Candelabrums are very hardy because they are not as likely to be damaged when they are shipped.

We have grown some of this genus for over 5 years and like many corals they become more hardy as they are cloned in captivity. Much of our future research will include DNA studies of the internal symbionts that are so important to the growth of photosynthetic corals.

This group of Gorgonians do not need to be fed, but they grow much better when there is some food for them to consume. This is often fish waste that is swept up in the strong water current that these corals thrive in. In our grow out tanks we often add one extra power head that is on a lamp timer so that it is on for 30 minutes and then off for 30 minutes.

Hello, Each of these links show you one half of the 30 gallon color reef that we use to grow predatory Gorgonians and other soft corals that need to be fed.
Please e-mail us if you like these larger pictures so we can make our site more enjoyable and educational. LeRoy

- two large bowls of tank water ( remember to change the water periodically
because of the temperature change)

- AragocreteTM plugs or small reef safe rocks

- drill press or hand held drill

- 3/16 inch or 1/4 inch cement drill bit

- GARF reef glue or Styrofoam*

STEP 1 - Drilling the Holes

Use a drill press or hand held drill with a 3/16 inch or 1/4 inch cement bit to make a
hole in the plug or rock. The depth of the hole should range from 1/4 inch
to 1/2 inch maximum. Wash plugs in tap water to remove excess dust and particles.

Some people use a Dremil tool to drill holes, but we have found that a small drill press works very well. Start your holes very slowly and allow the drill bit to do the work.

We have been drilling three holes in our Reef Plugs so we can mount several types of Gorgonians on each plug. These separate Gorgonians are glued into the holes so that they fan out from the center. This allows the Gorgonians to mature before they are separated for mounting in their own part of the reef aquarium.

STEP 2 - Making the First Cuts

You can plan your cuttings so that each piece has a nice shape by leaving small branches on some of the cuttings and by making unbranched pieces longer. Cut off pieces of your mother colony, into a large bowl with tank water. The
size of the cutting does not matter, but if you are planning to ship these
cuttings, larger ones require more water and are therefore more expensive
to ship. Scissors work the best for this step, but a scalpel or razor will
work just fine.

We always cut collected Gorgonians so that there are several short branches left on the base. These bases are glued into our brood stock systems. Each of the branches we left on the base soon grow new stalks that can cut later.

STEP 3 - Removal of Tissue

When you are cutting brown photosynthetic Gorgonians you can use your wire strippers to remove 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch of the coenchyme
(tissue) leaving the hard central axis.

This exposed axis offers a stronger
bond with the reef gel than the tissue would. We have also seen that some
Genus such as Plexaurella will develop an infection if the reef gel is
covering the coenchyme.

The small pieces of left over tissue can be
scattered over the substrate in your tank. We have observed some of these
pieces attach and begin to grow.

We have been using the wire stripping pliers for several semesters and they work very well for this job. The pliers seem to do less damage to the tissue we remove and more of them start to grow in the gravel.

STEP 4 - Attaching the Cutting

Using the reef glue, fill in the hole of your plug or rock completely. Next
place the exposed axis of your cutting into the glue filled hole. Dip the
cutting and plug into your second bowl of tank water and hold under water
for 10 seconds or until there is a firm bond.

Your first gorgonian cutting is now complete. Remember to place the plug in an area with strong current
and moderate light. If the cutting is not doing well in one spot, and this
goes for all corals, move it each week until it finds a place it likes.

IMPORTANT NOTE

It is very important to dip any glued cutting in reef water as soon as possible. Reef glue heats as it cures and the tissue can be burned. We dip all cuttings in bowls of reef water as soon as we attach the coral.

The glue also seals the cuttings so very few of them get any type of infection. Notice the branches we left on this cutting. These branches make it very easy to tell the top of the coral. When you have many non-branching cuttings it can be hard to tell which end should go up. You can run the cutting lightly through your fingers. The polyps point upward, so the coral will feel smooth when you are pulling the base of the coral down. Glue the end down that feels like it is easy to pull through your fingers.

*Note - You can substitute the reef glue with Styrofoam Cut a small piece
of foam and wedge it in the hole against the exposed axis of your cutting.
Although this is an inexpensive method, we have had much better long term
success using the reef glue.

Some people use epoxy to attach his cuttings to the rocks. We have found that we can complete many more cuttings with super glue in the the same time. One good thing about Epoxy is that it will hold the cuttings in place better if you are shipping them a few days after they are glued. The super glue is more brittle and it is better to wait until the Gorgonian starts to grow down onto the rock before you ship it.

REMEMBER - SAVE A REEF - GROW YOUR OWN

FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO PURCHASE, TRADE, AND SAVE AS MANY TYPES OF CORALS AS WE CAN.

We are having a special on all of the coral cuttings. WHEN YOU PURCHASE 5 AT THE REGULAR PRICE OF $100 WE WILL GIVE YOU TWO FREE CORALS!.
We will continue to provide the most current data on reef farming for both education and profit.

For us to fill your order, please enter your name, E-mail and phone numbers and we will call you to take down the size of your aquarium so we can help you order the proper mixture of reef janitors and Garf Grunge. We will ask for your mailing address and payment information. Thank you!! Alternatively, you may also print out and either mail or fax your order to 208-344-6189

JOIN THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
You can support our research and learn more about reef aquariums and wetlands
1726 Merrill St. Boise Idaho 83705

WE DID IT - we set up our long needed merchants account
so we can take credit cards at 1-800-600-6163

Use this site to solve your reef aquarium algae problems, and help support our research!!!

Many of the rare corals are offered to our members for 2 years before they are put on sale. We will soon have an E-mail list that will list the rarest color forms of sps corals and soft corals such as Xenia and Mushrooms.

Hello Leroy,
I just had to write you to thank you for everything that you and your staff have done to help me create such a beautiful reef tank. Let me start by saying that I would never have done business with any internet company in the past. I am very careful about how my money is spent. YOUR BEAUTIFUL PICTURES ON THE WEB SITE CONVINCED ME TO GIVE YOU A TRY. BOY AM I GLAD I DID!

I started out by purchasing some garf grunge and reef janitors. The janitors have completely cleaned my tank and are busy working every day. I had an algae bloom that I could not control, and now, in only a few weeks, it is not only gone, but the tank is spotless!

The grunge is the most beautiful substrate I have ever seen! I have found numerous little corals and sponges growing in my tank, and I am experiencing a coraline algae bloom much faster than thought possible. Also, every experienced reef keeper that has seen my tank wants to know what the heck is that? Being used to seeing plain sand or crushed coral, they are delighted and mystified by the beauty! It has also added a level of stability and overall health to my tank that is amazing!

Next, as you know, I have ordered a few shipments of corals from you. I can't believe how fast they grow, and how beautiful they are! This is of course in addition to the rare species that you offer. Never in a million years could I have found the rare and different corals you have sent me. The pet shop, or reef "experts" would never have most of these beautiful rarities!

As a matter of fact, my local coral supplier has seen my tank and he cannot believe his eyes! He has told me that with over thirty years in the reef aquarium business, never has he seen such a beautiful tank! The "show" tank in his store is very pale by comparison!

I have told him that thanks to some real professionals in Idaho, this type of tank could be a reality for anyone! I am sure he will order from you soon, as he is most jealous of my aquarium, and has to have some for his own!

I will send you some pictures very soon. I am sure that you will agree, this is truly a beautiful, healthy, thriving, 90 gallon reef aquarium. I owe most of it to you and your staff!

From grunge, janitors, magic reef dust, and your help in recommending food and additives, everything I followed from what you have suggested has helped my tank achieve more goals than I ever expected! THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING!
I CANNOT WAIT TO RECEIVE MY NEXT ORDER, VERY SOON!